Simply put this shouldn't be up right now but I post it out of the anger I feel towards a certain manager.

Frank Wren should do something this offseason that he won't and every fan will have serious questions going forward about any potential success without it.

09-29-2011, 02:27 AM

Los Bravos

He's not only an imbecile but a buck passer as well. Almost all of his post game press conferences amount to "Hey, don't look at me!"

09-29-2011, 02:44 AM

Blue387

If you're curious, Fredi Gonzalez has a 3 year contract (2011-13), plus a 2014 club option.

09-29-2011, 06:33 AM

PureBaseballFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue387

If you're curious, Fredi Gonzalez has a 3 year contract (2011-13), plus a 2014 club option.

Dones't mean he can't be fired and kicked to the curb.

09-29-2011, 07:19 AM

PureBaseballFan

I could write another 1000 posts about Fredi (though most would devolve into long rants that amount to me calling him an idiot) but have decided to try and move on.

Braves Free Agents/Options

Eric Hinske - $1.5 Million Club Option $100k buyout

Alex Gonzalez

Jack Wilson

Nate McLouth - $10.65 Million Club Option $1.25 Million buyout

Kenshin Kawakami

Scott Linebrink

George Sherrill

Arbitration Eligible

2nd Year

Jair Jurrjens

Martin Prado

Eric O'Flaherty

3rd Year

Michael Bourn

Peter Moylan

5 Questions for the Offseason

Who will play SS? :: Some have talked of bringing back Alex Gonzalez for his great defense but is it worth it? Do the Braves trust Pastornicky to takeover full time or perhaps bring back someone like Wilson to be the backup plan?

Should they look to improve LF? :: Martin had a down year and some believe he has be overexposed. There are also some OFers that might be had for affordable prices like Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, or Michael Cuddyer. So should the Braves go back to Martin as a super sub and get a LFer or should they stick with Prado?

What do you do with the rotation? :: If everyone is healthy (which is a big question by itself) should the Braves trade one of their starting pitchers? The Braves are stuck with Lowe but the potential market for Hanson or Jair would likely be large even with questions about their health but would it be worth it?

Do you extend Michael Bourn? :: Bourn will be 29 in December and be entering his final year of arbitration. While the Braves could find a CFer in the minors during the next year it seems unlikely so keeping him past 2012 could be the best case scenario.

Do you add free agents to the bullpen or add internally? :: The Braves could go with almost a completely youthful bullpen with Medlen coming back and guys like J.J. Hoover potentially taking a spot but the Braves almost always seem a like a little veteran leadership in the bullpen so will they spend money on a veteran in the pen?

Thank God. For those that wonder why people don't like Fredi Gonzalez here is his answer to why he pitched to Hunter Pence with Martinez (who was hitting a whopping .198) on deck.

Quote:

“I thought about not doing it,” Gonzalez said. “But all of a sudden you’ve got the 1-2 or 2-2 count, whatever it was. And Scotty made a great pitch. ... Can you guarantee me Martinez wasn’t going to get a hit, or draw a base on balls?”

I think someone should tell Fredi normally you don't make the choice to walk someone in the middle of an AB if the choice is clear.

There is also a rumor that some in the front office want to trade Heyward, if Wren finds anyone who thinks like that hopefully he fires their dumb *****.

09-30-2011, 06:54 PM

Los Bravos

You also don't approach Baseball with the attitude of expecting to guarantee anything. You play the odds and try to maximize your chances. Pitching to Pence is a far more dangerous option than pitching to Martinez. Ten year olds across the world could have told that fool that.

Apparently, they're also going to have Lowe on a short leash, too. FW publicly says he doesn't see him in the rotation.

I feel a lot better today than I did 24 hours ago.

09-30-2011, 08:05 PM

PureBaseballFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Los Bravos

You also don't approach Baseball with the attitude of expecting to guarantee anything. You play the odds and try to maximize your chances. Pitching to Pence is a far more dangerous option than pitching to Martinez. Ten year olds across the world could have told that fool that.

Apparently, they're also going to have Lowe on a short leash, too. FW publicly says he doesn't see him in the rotation.

I feel a lot better today than I did 24 hours ago.

Saw that and thankfully he said Heyward wasn't going anywhere though he might have competition which is fine with me.

10-01-2011, 12:04 PM

SamtheBravesFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureBaseballFan

There is also a rumor that some in the front office want to trade Heyward, if Wren finds anyone who thinks like that hopefully he fires their dumb *****.

Turns out Heyward was the best outfielder statistically despite the low BA.

10-01-2011, 11:03 PM

Los Bravos

There is a school of thought that Buster's source for that rumor was Gonzalez himself, hence the public smackdown of the idea by Wren.

10-06-2011, 05:08 PM

PureBaseballFan

5 quick predictions for the offseason.

1. No Braves starter gets traded unless named Derek Lowe.

2. Braves will bring in someone like Jack Wilson or Wilson himself to backup Pastornicky.

3. Braves will release Diaz again and bring in someone like Cody Ross.

4. A favorite of all, Peter Moylan, will be non-tendered with the potential of bringing him back at a cheaper price point.

5. Braves will sign one Georgia Reliever in Jonathan Broxton or Matt Capps on a one year incentive laden deal.

10-07-2011, 09:11 AM

SamtheBravesFan

I have to believe Alex Gonzalez will be brought back before Pastornicky starts... everything else makes sense to me.

10-07-2011, 11:11 AM

PureBaseballFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamtheBravesFan

I have to believe Alex Gonzalez will be brought back before Pastornicky starts... everything else makes sense to me.

Part hope for I guess because I just can't stand another year of Alex Gonzalez in the lineup everyday. I do think there are some reasons to believe the Braves will go with Pastornicky with the major reason being the terrible offensive months that Gonzalez had except for September and the extra speed he could add to the team which Fredi seemed to like with the addition of Bourn.

I could see them bringing him back but I think it would be pretty pointless as even his quality defense doesn't makeup enough for his terrible offense.

10-07-2011, 01:59 PM

SamtheBravesFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureBaseballFan

Part hope for I guess because I just can't stand another year of Alex Gonzalez in the lineup everyday. I do think there are some reasons to believe the Braves will go with Pastornicky with the major reason being the terrible offensive months that Gonzalez had except for September and the extra speed he could add to the team which Fredi seemed to like with the addition of Bourn.

I could see them bringing him back but I think it would be pretty pointless as even his quality defense doesn't makeup enough for his terrible offense.

I see the Braves bringing Gonzalez back because they view him as the best option. Just keep him at the bottom of the order and everything should be fine.

I know I said that last year.

10-07-2011, 05:46 PM

PureBaseballFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamtheBravesFan

I see the Braves bringing Gonzalez back because they view him as the best option. Just keep him at the bottom of the order and everything should be fine.

I know I said that last year.

April .238/.280/.396
May .305/.324/.390
June .176/.219/.308
July .208/.229/.264
August .204/.228/.357
September .367/.385/.633

1 Month Great
1 Month Average
1 Month Bad
3 Months of making me want to scratch my eyes out when he comes to bat.

10-08-2011, 08:08 AM

SamtheBravesFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureBaseballFan

April .238/.280/.396
May .305/.324/.390
June .176/.219/.308
July .208/.229/.264
August .204/.228/.357
September .367/.385/.633

1 Month Great
1 Month Average
1 Month Bad
3 Months of making me want to scratch my eyes out when he comes to bat.

Of course. I still think it's a pipe dream to believe that Tyler Pastornicky will start; the team doesn't seem to want a real offensive threat at shorstop now.

10-08-2011, 09:33 AM

PureBaseballFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamtheBravesFan

Of course. I still think it's a pipe dream to believe that Tyler Pastornicky will start; the team doesn't seem to want a real offensive threat at shorstop now.

I don't think it is a pipe dream, I mean the Braves have proven they are not afraid to go into the season with a rookie basically written into the position. I just don't see anything that makes it look like the Braves are leaning more towards Gonzalez then the alternatives.

10-22-2011, 02:56 PM

Blue387

Anatomy of a trade, a nice article on the Michael Bourn trade earlier this year:

Greg Walker is the Braves' new hitting coach. Can't do much worse than Larry Parrish did.

10-31-2011, 01:10 PM

PureBaseballFan

My GOD FRANK WREN is the Greatest GM of ALL-TIME, HE DID IT, HE REALLY DID It. I didn't think in any reality that he could actually do it but to trade Lowe and not have to give up a good player in the process is amazing.

10-31-2011, 01:28 PM

19braves77

Great job to get rid of Lowe.

Now they need to build the bench with adequate players.

10-31-2011, 05:49 PM

Atlanta Braves Freak

I saw Bowman tweet about Lowe being traded and I couldn't believe it! I was thinking it must be some other Lowe in the minors, lol. Awesome job Wren!

Edit: A bit random, but today marks my 9th year on BBF!! It's wild, I joined when I was 12 years old and a middle schooler. Now I'm in my senior year of college. I'm not able to follow baseball as closely as I used to, but I enjoy chatting with fellow Braves fans and baseball fans.

11-01-2011, 08:12 AM

SamtheBravesFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureBaseballFan

My GOD FRANK WREN is the Greatest GM of ALL-TIME, HE DID IT, HE REALLY DID It. I didn't think in any reality that he could actually do it but to trade Lowe and not have to give up a good player in the process is amazing.

This may be ignorance speaking, but does that usually happen?

11-01-2011, 04:06 PM

PureBaseballFan

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamtheBravesFan

This may be ignorance speaking, but does that usually happen?

What trading a good player with a bad player simply to get rid of said bad player? Not really but it is more of a statement of how likely I thought Lowe being traded was.